With Beyonce, Jay-Z, star powe rset for BET Awards

In this Feb. 20 file photo, entertainer Jay-Z reacts with his wife, Beyonce, during the third quarter of an NBA basketball game between the New York Knicks and New Jersey Nets, at Madison Square Garden in New York. Beyonce will battle her husband for video of the year at the BET Awards, and now both performers are confirmed to attend, The Associated Press reports Friday.

FILE - In this May 23, 2012 file photo, singer Kanye West, left, and television personality Kim Kardashian arrive for the screening of "Cruel Summer" at the 65th international film festival, in Cannes, southern France. Now that Beyonce and Jay-Z have confirmed that they're attending the BET Awards, on Sunday, July 1, 2012, the next question is: Will West be the third wheel, or will his girlfriend Kardashian be on his arm? (AP Photo/Francois Mori, File)

FILE - In a May 2, 2011 file photo, Beyonce Knowles and her husband Jay-Z arrive at the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute gala in New York. Beyonce will battle her husband for video of the year at the BET Awards, and now both performers are confirmed to attend, The Associated Press reports Friday, June 29, 2012. Beyonce is the second most nominated act. She's up for six awards. Jay-Z is nominated for five. (AP Photo/Evan Agostini, File)

FILE - In this Saturday, May 12, 2012 file photo, Cissy Houston performs at Gospelfest in Newark, N.J. Whitney Houston's mother, Cissy Houston, will perform a tribute to her late daughter at the upcoming BET Awards on July 1, 2012, which will air live from the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Charles Sykes, File)

FILE - In this Nov. 22, 2009, file photo, singer Whitney Houston receives the International Artist Award onstage at the 37th Annual American Music Awards in Los Angeles. Whitney Houston's mother, Cissy Houston, will perform a tribute to her late daughter, along with other female singers, at the upcoming BET Awards on July 1, 2012 at The Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles, File)

Now that Beyonce and Jay-Z have confirmed that they’re attending the BET Awards, the next question is: Will Kanye West be the third wheel, or will his girlfriend, Kim Kardashian, be on his arm?

Kardashian could add to the list of big names attending Sunday’s awards show, which already includes Quentin Tarantino, Jamie Foxx and host Samuel L. Jackson. And there are top musicians attending, too; Nicki Minaj, Usher, Rick Ross and Chris Brown are set to perform.

The night will be Brown’s first public appearance since the New York City nightclub brawl between his entourage and Drake’s. Brown, his girlfriend, his bodyguard and NBA star Tony Parker were among those injured in the June 14 encounter, where bottles were thrown.

Drake, however, wasn’t expected be at the event. Both singer-rappers were nominated for awards.

Rihanna, another nominee, was also expected to be absent.

The top nominee was West, who was up for seven awards. Beyonce followed with six and her husband earned five.

Beyonce was nominated twice for show’s top award, video of the year, with “Love On Top” and “Countdown.” Two collaborative songs by West and Jay-Z, “Otis” and “In Paris,” are also up for the prize. The fifth nominee is Usher’s “Climax.”

West and Jay-Z released the platinum album “Watch the Throne” last year. West was also to perform at the awards with his G.O.O.D. Music label mates.

The most-buzzed about performance, though, was a tribute planned for Whitney Houston. It was to include the late singer’s mother, Cissy Houston, and other female singers, though BET didn’t release those names.

The show scored its best ratings in 2009 when it paid tribute to Michael Jackson, who had died three days earlier. The event had 10.2 million viewers.

The 2012 BET Awards will air live from the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.